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Program
Requirements
Broadcast Telecommunications Mass Media,
MA
Campus
Location:
Main Campus
Full-time/Part-time
Status
Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m.
General
Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic credits
required beyond the Baccalaureate:
0
Required Courses:
The following courses are required of all BTMM Master's students:
1. BTMM 400 / MMC 400: Introduction to Communication Concepts (Communication Theory)
2. BTMM 411 / MMC 500: Communication Research Methods
3. At least one of the following:
BTMM 520 / MMC 520: Communication Institutions
BTMM 540 / MMC 540: Communication Content and Behavior
We recommend that our students adhere to the following timeline for the degree. Once required courses have been taken, students are free to pursue a concentration in communication scholarship or media production and business.
Semester 1 (ideally fall) (8 credits)
Take two core courses*: BTMM 400 and BTMM 411
Semester 2 (12 credits)
Take remaining required course - BTMM 520 or BTMM 540 - and two other courses*
Semester 3 (12 credits)
Take three courses*
Semester 4 (8 credits)
Take two courses, including preparation for the possibility of a Master's Thesis or Project*
Prepare for and take Comprehensive Examinations
Internship:
False
Language Examination:
False
Culminating
Events:
Culminating Exam
Comprehensive Exam Description - Upon completion of all or most coursework and all other requirements, the student must take comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive examinations are a set of written tests on several subjects, that may, if necessary, be followed by oral discussions.
Comprehensive Exam Subject - The examinations cover the discipline of mass media and communication, not the precise coursework taken by a given student. The student will be examined in three areas that he or she determines in conjunction with his or her committee. Each area is represented by the question(s) of one committee member. The questioner in each examination area may be understood to be the lead or main reader for that area. The three areas are chosen from the following:
-Communication Theory
-Communication Research Methodology
-Communication History
-Communication Institutions
-Communication Message Systems
-Communication Behavior
-Optional Area
Comprehensive Exam Complete - As the student nears coursework completion, he or she should discuss with the advisor the constitution of the examination committee and the topics of the examinations. During this period, the student is also advised to check with prospective faculty members concerning their willingness and ability to serve as members on this committee.
This should be done sometime during the students' 3rd semester of study. The comprehensive exams are taken during the final semester of study.
Comprehensive Exam Write - The student will be examined in three areas that he determines in conjunction with his committee. Each area is represented by the question(s) of one committee member. The questioner in each examination area may be understood to be the lead or main reader for that area.
The form of the examinations will be determined by the student and the committee. Each of the three examinations can be taken either in-office or at home, either with or without the use of notes and/or books, and for a period of a few hours to a week. In all cases, the written portion of the examination must be completed within a 14 day period. In-office examinations may not exceed four hours.Comprehensive Exam Grade - All members of the committee evaluate each answer and convey their assessments to the committee chair within three weeks of receiving the examinations. First, each content area is graded on a pass/fail basis. To pass in a given area, the majority of committee members (i.e., no fewer than two) must accept the answer(s). Included in this majority approval must be that of the area examiner (i.e., the lead reader). Second, to pass the comprehensive examinations, the committee must also determine that the overall written (and oral, if required) performance across all questions and areas is adequate. Thus, it is possible that a student may discharge each area just passably but have such a weak overall performance that she fails the comprehensive examinations.Comprehensive Exam Pass - The student must answer every question on the examination in order to be evaluated. Evaluators look for an understanding of core concepts, application of relevant materials, informed responses, and careful writing. Additional standards may be applied by individual faculty members.Comprehensive Exam Schedule - The examinations are scheduled by the student and his committee members. The student must complete all of the examinations within the 90 days following the approval of the student's comprehensive examination committee; if 90 days from the approval-of-committee elapse without completion, the process must be started again from the very beginning.
Examinations may be scheduled any time between the beginning of classes in September and December 23, or between the beginning of classes in January and May Commencement.
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